framing this election as a choice. really, a philosophical debate with the specifics underneath him, of what we know that romney can do about the role in government in american life, which is something that republicans have long felt would put romney on solid ground. >> and he did seem, matthew dowd, for the first time to reach beyond that conservative base and really talked to independents. about issues they care about. >> i think ultimately, they were speaking to persuadable voters or undecided voters. as mitt romney starts to take leads in some of these battleground states, which is my expectation he will, it's not over. it's a close race. the other thing that happened last night, there's been two factors at play. there's been the environment of the country, the large number of people that think we're on the wrong track. and the perceptions and images of the candidates. each had an advantage. what happened last night was the images of the candidates, mitt romney evened that ground. when that happens, people say, wel